The bus crash in Muar early this morning killed 14 people, the worst incident since the Genting Highlands crash that killed 37 people three years ago.

Lee Lam Thye, head of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), told Malay Mail online, “This is all about law enforcement.”

Muar police have reportedly said the bus driver was believed to have been speeding.

The chances for this incident would have been lower if the relevant agencies had more resolve to implement serious reform in road safety measures, including tightly regulating long-distance bus operators, said Lee.

“We have to monitor just how effective the law enforcement has been. To deal with all these people you must have effective laws,” he added.

The Miros chief said many of the recommendations made by the Independent Advisory Panel to the Minister of Transport, following the Genting Highlands crash of August 21, 2013, had yet to see light of day.

Meanwhile, Deputy Transport Minister Ab Aziz Kaprawi told the Road Transport Department (JPJ) today to work with traffic police and PLUS Malaysia to investigate the cause of this morning’s horror accident in Muar.

The express bus was run by Aliran Golden Coach. It dived into a ravine along the North-South Expressway, run by toll expressway operator PLUS. The bus was on the way to Kuala Lumpur from Johor Baru. The remaining 16 passengers were injured and reportedly in varying conditions.

Ab Aziz also said he has requested JPJ authorities to make careful checks on express buses and to monitor the health of bus drivers.

“For road users, this is a reminder to us all to be more careful in our driving,” he said on Facebook.

Prime Minister Najib Razak offered his condolences.

“Sad about news of the bus tragedy in Johor that took 14 lives. Condolences to the victims’ families, I pray that the injured will recover, God willing,” he tweeted in Malay.